The Second Brain: How Gut Microbes Shape Our Mental State
Recent breakthroughs in neurobiology have revealed a complex bidirectional communication system known as the gut-brain axis. Researchers have discovered that certain strains of gut bacteria produce massive quantities of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin, neurotransmitters essential for regulating anxiety and emotional stability. Using high-resolution fMRI scans, clinical trials demonstrated that patients consuming specific probiotics showed significantly reduced reactivity in the amygdala—the brain's primary threat-detection center—when exposed to stressful stimuli.
Adapted from a gut-brain medicine review, 2023.
Outline two defining principles and concepts of the biological approach in psychology and briefly explain how this approach can be related to the article above.
135 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Areas, covering Social, Cognitive, Developmental, Biological, and Individual differences. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.